San Francisco Frontiers - Fifth-Generation Mitsubishi Pajero Returns With Ladder Frame and Seven Seats

Mitsubishi Motors has brought back the Pajero for a fifth generation after a five-year absence from global markets. The new model returns as a large cross-country SUV built around a highly rigid ladder frame, restoring a nameplate with more than 3.25 million cumulative sales across four earlier generations and a competition record that includes 12 Dakar Rally victories.

The chassis uses additional high-tensile steel and a larger frame cross-section to increase torsional and bending rigidity while controlling weight. Mitsubishi pairs the structure with independent front suspension and a newly developed five-link arrangement for the solid rear axle. The company says the combination is intended to preserve off-road durability while improving steering response, ride quality and stability on paved roads.

The new Pajero has an upright profile, box-shaped fenders, a vertical grille and a largely flat roof. The squared-off design supports visibility and interior space, including headroom for passengers in the third row. Ground clearance is just over nine inches. Compared with the Toyota Land Cruiser, which is one of its obvious rivals, the Mitsubishi gives up some approach and break-over angle performance but offers a better departure angle and greater ground clearance.

The cabin seats seven. The second row can slide 5.9 inches to make access to the third row easier. Equipment shown at launch includes heated second-row seats, a 12-speaker audio system, physical switches for frequently used functions and two 14.3-inch dashboard displays handling instruments and infotainment.

Mitsubishi describes comfort over long distances and broken surfaces as a major development target, using the phrase “off-road comfort” for the balance between rough-terrain capability and everyday refinement. The Pajero is positioned as a flagship rather than simply a utility-focused derivative.

The fifth-generation vehicle is being produced in Thailand. Mitsubishi has not announced a direct return of this version to the United States, where the Pajero was historically sold as the Montero. North America was absent from the initial market plan, making a near-term U.S. launch of the Thailand-built model unlikely.

A separate future Montero remains possible. One scenario discussed around Mitsubishi’s North American plans involves a model based on the next-generation Nissan Frontier, although any such vehicle is not expected until closer to 2030. For now, the confirmed development is the global return of the Pajero in its new ladder-frame form.

O.Anderson--SFF